Britain would not support the US if it tried to run Iraq "indefinitely" once the war was over, said Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien.

Britain would not support the US if it tried to run Iraq "indefinitely" once the war was over, said Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien.

But he insisted American plans to install retired US General Jay Garner as effectively the interim civilian governor of Iraq did not show the White House had any "colonial" ambitions for the country.

Mr O'Brien last night said Britain wanted to ensure an elected Iraqi administration took over "as quickly as we can".

Journalist dies

A BBC cameraman was killed in northern Iraq today when he stood on a landmine as he climbed out of his car, the corporation said.

Kaveh Golestan, 52, a Pulitzer prize-winning Iranian freelance cameraman, was part of a four-man team filming at Kifri. Producer Stuart Hughes, 31, was caught in the blast and injured his foot.

Backing falls

SUPPORT for the war has dropped to 48 per cent - below 50 per cent for the first time since military action started, according to a poll.

And while Tony Blair scores better than US President George Bush on trust levels, 60 per cent do not trust the Prime Minister to tell the truth about the war. But the Daily Mirror/GMTV poll showed 78 per cent do not want troops brought home until the war is over, no matter how long it takes.

Peace mission

US SECRETARY of State Colin Powell was visiting Nato headquarters in Brussels today on a bridge-building and fundraising mission in the midst of war. He wants to mend fences with European allies and press the case for sharing the vast cost of reconstruction in Iraq once Saddam Hussein is toppled.

Injured return

CASUALTIES from the Iraqi conflict were today flying back to Britain. Two planeloads of service personnel from the Army, Navy and RAF were due to touch down at Edinburgh Airport and would be able to go straight home or to their bases while others required hospital treatment, said the MoD.

Protest row

IRISH police have been accused of over-reaction after officers in riot gear dragged a member of the republic's parliament away from an anti-war protest. Socialist leader Joe Higgins said around a dozen protesters, including himself, were hauled away from the Dail.